UNC did not start off like a team playing for a chance to go to the CWS. They went down in order in the top of the first, twice on called third strikes. Not true of USC, however, who struck again early. They took advantage of two Alex White walks and got RBI doubles from Justin Smoak and Trent Kline to go up 2-0. Phil Disher scored on a throwing error by SS Josh Horton on a ball that Dustin Ackley couldn't scoop at first base. That made it 3-0.

As has been the case in nearly all their recent games, UNC answered right back, and again with two outs. Seth Williams had an RBI single to knock in Tim Federowicz with UNC's first run. The Gamecocks defense failed them again, as Benji Johnson hit a chopper to third that James Darnell fielded, but then threw wildly to second, allowing Josh Horton to score an unearned run to make it 3-2.

Justin Smoak got a run back for South Carolina when he hit the first pitch from Alex White in the third inning over the rightfield wall to make it 4-2.

South Carolina added 4 more in the fourth with a bit of controversy to make it 8-2. Harley Lail led off with a double and wound up scoring on a sac fly by Steven Reinhold, chasing UNC starter Alex White (3.1 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 W, 2 K) as Matt Danford came in. After Danford gave up an RBI single to James Darnell and walked Justin Smoak, DH Phil Disher delivered a shot down the third base line for a double to score two more. It was a close play and third baseman Chad Flack was livid over the call. UNC Coach Mike Fox came out to argue with third base umpire Jeff Henrichs, who called a very consistent game behind the plate last night. As expected, Fox's protests were to no avail. Things did not end there, however. When the inning ended and Fox came out to coach third base, he began arguing again and must have indicated that he saw a replay suggesting that Henrichs missed the play. The beleaguered umpire went running over to the rest of the umpiring crew, pointing into the UNC dugout before eventually resuming his position.

Reid Fronk led off the UNC fifth with a double over the head of centerfielder Steven Reinhold and would up scoring on a wild pitch by starter Arik Hempy, bringing the score to 8-3 SC.

UNC then picked up two in the seventh- you guessed it, with two out. With one out, Reid Fronk reached on the worst rule in all of sports- a strikeout that got away from the catcher. A single by Dustin Ackley ended the night for Hempy after an impressive performance (6.2 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 4 ER, 2 W, 7 K). Hempy left to a huge round of applause from the Gamecocks' fans. A balk moved the runners to 2nd and 3rd, and Federowicz came through with a 2 run single of reliever Alex Farotto, reducing the Gamecock lead to 8-5. Farotto got Josh Horton looking to end the inning, and that led to a lengthy delay due to lightning in the area.

When the game resumed today, UNC called on Rob Wooten again. He got the Gamecocks in order in the seventh and held them scoreless in the eighth.

USC brought in Jeff Jeffords to face the Tar Heels in the eighth, and again he had trouble finding the strike zone. He walked Flack to lead off the inning and then gave up a base hit to Tim Fedroff before striking out Seth Williams. UNC scored its first run of the series with less than two out when Kyle Seager's sac fly scored Flack. After Reid Fronk doubled to put the tying run at second base, the inning ended on another close play. Garrett Gore hit a chopper to third that Darnell fielded cleanly, but his throw to first pulled Smoak across the bag. Gore was called out on the play by first base umpire Joe Burleson, drawing the ire of first base coach Jason Howell, who pointed to the bag indicating that Smoak was pulled off the bag on the play.

UNC went down in order in the ninth, so we'll play a third game later on.